If you haven't tried the M&P9 yet, I recomend that you do. It and a few other newer plastic guns have different size grips available. The grip is very important. I have an XD40, had an XD9 and now have an M&P9. The M&P ifits me better.

I'm limited in what I can try to what the range I go to has. The only S&W they had was not one of the polymer M&Ps and I didn't much care for it. It seems most of my first choices for a gun are of the polymer type. I do see myself getting a 1911 .45 in the hopefully near future though. Probably a Kimber. I do have a wide variety of likes in brands of gun if not styles, but being so limited in what I can try I'll never really get to know which really work best for me. I've only got 1 range within an hour from me where I can try different guns. In my county unless you have a gun license you cant even shoot a gun. I do like the XD line, I liked the Glocks I shot, I am very interested in the Walther P99 and the M&Ps seem like something I would like as well. I find it hard considering a gun to buy without shooting it though which is why the Walther and probably M&P are out and the XD is in. I dont feel bad though because I did really like the gun when I shot it. I just like to give myself as many choices as possible. Being here helps too as I can get good advice from a bunch of people who know more about this than myself. Thanks.

I'm close to making my first purchase too (the two I own were acquired through transfers), and the best advice I've read by several members is to hold out for the one you want most - that is, if you have a favorite that might be out of your present price range.

That's the case with me. The Sig 229 is what I want, and even though I'll have to wait another month or more, it will be a purchase I know I won't regret.

I went to my local range and placed my order yesterday for a Springfiled Armory XD9 with 5" barrel. I won't be able to bring it home for about 6 months due to local laws, but at least the range will let me shoot it while I'm there which most ranges won't do. I can't wait to finally start getting some actual practice with my own gun. I'm hoping this will begin to make my shooting better as I can really start trying to be more consistent with what I do and with the gun I use. I'll let you know how things go once I get my hands on it.